Why Connection and Networking Are the Unsung Heroes of Your Leadership Journey
- Liz Short
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
Let’s Talk About Connection and Networking (No Tech Experience Required)
Let’s get closer.
I wanna talk about one of my favorite words: CONNECTION.
Because connection is so important.
Whether we’re talking about connecting on social media or connecting with your team.
Or connecting your goals to your Why.
Magic happens when you connect!
But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy, or that it comes naturally.
It takes work.
But I found wherever there’s an issue, there probably needs to be more connection.
Is there a place you need to focus on connecting more this quarter?
As a small business owner who lives and breathes leadership development and personal branding, let me tell you something that might sting a little:
Your business isn’t stuck because your offer sucks.
It’s stuck because you're disconnected.
From your people, your purpose, or both.
Why Connection is Your Brand’s Secret Weapon
An important early lesson I learned on my entrepreneurial journey was that NONE of us do it alone.
We're always better when we collaborate together.
Period.
I wanted to take some time this month and go DEEPER on the types of connection:
Connecting & networking.
Connecting with your team & colleagues.
Connecting your goals & your why.
Connection has been a HUGE secret to my success in building my brand and my business and connection is a HUGE part of our 2025 VISION & STRATEGY.
Mic drop.
You want a strong personal brand?
Great.
That glossy video content you post (ideally with good lighting and decent sound, please) only works if it’s backed by genuine connection.
Not the fake “great post!” kind.
I’m talking about intentional, authentic networking and relationship-building that makes people want to remember your name and not just because you show up on their feed three times a week.
Networking Isn't Dead, It Just Got Smarter
Here's where people start to groan: “But networking feels fake.”
Okay, first: stop going to events just to collect business cards you’ll never use.
Instead, ask better questions.
Show up curious.
Be the person who listens more than they talk (yes, even you, Miss CEO).
Networking today isn’t about schmoozing over bad wine and cold shrimp cocktail.
It’s about building a web of trusted relationships (online and IRL) that help you grow personally and professionally.
It’s about showing up consistently, adding value, and not ghosting after one coffee chat.
Leading Through Connection
Whether you're running a lean team of five or a department of fifty, connection is your leadership lifeline.
Your team doesn’t just need direction, they need to feel connected to your vision.
Your culture.
Your energy.
And you can’t outsource that.
Leaders who prioritize connection create spaces where innovation actually happens, because people feel safe enough to share the “bad” ideas that turn into billion-dollar pivots.
So if your team feels like they’re phoning it in lately?
Spoiler: it’s probably not a workflow problem.
It’s a connection problem.
Personal Branding Without Connection Is Just Noise
Look, you can hire the best content strategist, the flashiest video editor (we offer that too!), and still fall flat if your personal brand has no heart.
Your audience can smell inauthenticity through the screen, especially if they’re wearing blue light glasses.
If you want your personal brand to actually connect, you have to mean it.
That means showing up with clarity, confidence, and consistency.
(Oh, and not disappearing between launches.)
The good news?
You don’t need to be everywhere.
You just need to be where it counts.
And guess what?
Where it counts is where connection happens.
So, What’s the Play?
You already know the answer.
More connection.
More networking.
More meaningful leadership conversations.
Fewer excuses, fewer posts about “just vibing,” and more action.
If something’s not working in your business right now, start with this question:
“Where am I disconnected?”
Reconnect to your goals.
Your team.
Your people.
Your WHY.
And then?
Watch the magic happen.
Connection and networking have been the secret to my personal branding and leadership development success. Whether building a team or building trust on social media, connection is the key to meaningful growth. Want to strengthen your brand and business?
Let's chat today and let’s make that magic happen together!
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